Notable Minnesota Transfer Portal Entries
You can’t talk about college football or recruiting without talking about the transfer portal nowadays. With thousands of players entering the portal year to year, and that number only increasing, I think it’s important to track and keep tabs on the Minnesotans in search of a new home, and not just those leaving a D1 program. As always, there’s a Land of 10,000 Lakes product or two that are finding themselves quite popular in the portal, players who are talented enough to bump up a level, prospects taking the JUCO route, and Minnesotans who I have no idea what’s going on in their recruitment. If anyone else knows of a Minnesota-born prospect seeking a new home in the transfer portal, feel free to email me at: oliver@prepredzone.com.
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Will Frattalone (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) DB. 6′, 200 lbs. 4 Years of Eligibility Remaining. @willfratt5 – Transferring from Northern Iowa
High School & College Accolades:
110 tackles, 9 turnovers as a senior with the Red Knights. Also played lacrosse. Reported offers from Old Dominion, Valpo, Wagner, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Drake, and St. Thomas.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
Valparaiso University, Marist College. Frattalone took a visit to Marist College as well.
Drew Krengel (Totino-Grace) OL. 6’4, 280 lbs. 4 Years of Eligibility Remaining. @DrewKrengel – Transferring from Sioux Falls
High School & College Accolades:
Three-sport athlete at Totino-Grace who competed in football, basketball, and wrestling. Was a member of the USF football team in 2023 as a freshman. Held offers from West Liberty University, Morningside University, River Falls, Dakota State, Jamestown University, Dordt University, St. John’s University, Dakota Wesleyan, and Sioux Falls out of high school.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
Black Hills State University, Quincy University, Concordia-St. Paul, and St. Olaf College. Took a visit to Northfield to check out St. Olaf as well.
Khai West (St. Paul Central) DB. 6’1, 180 lbs. 1 Year of Eligibility Remaining. @khai_west11 – Transferring from Northern Iowa. Previous stops at MSU-Mankato and Laney College
High School & College Accolades:
At Laney College: Posted 68 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 INTs during the 2022 season playing JUCO ball in California. In 2023 at MSU-Mankato, West posted 5 INTs for 119 return yards and a TD, 38 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 10 PBUs, a FF, and two blocked kicks. Earned All-Super Region Four First Team Defense and NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors. Committed to UNI over an offer from Southern Utah. Entered the transfer portal after spring ball with UNI.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
Missouri State
Kham Chiaokhiao-Bowman (Robbinsdale Armstrong) WR. 6’1, 200 lbs. 3 Years of Eligibility. @ThaiBow4909 – Transferring from the University of Florida
High School & College Accolades:
Brother of former Breck turned Northwestern All-B1G WR Ramaud. Played four years with the Armstrong Falcons and spent a year at prep school St. Thomas More in Connecticut. Earned All-District, All-Metro, All-Conference, and All-State honors with the Falcons. Also was an All-State Long Jumper. Out of high school, held offers from Northern Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota State, Eastern Illinois, Ball State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Florida Atlantic. After heading to St. Thomas More he added South Florida, UMass, Illinois, Ole Miss, Nebraska, and Florida offers and committed to the Gators. Played in 12 games with UF in 2022 and caught seven passes for 138 yards and added three tackles. In 2023, he played in two games on special teams and redshirted. Entered the transfer portal in November.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
Cal-Berkeley, Miami( (FL), Temple, Nevada. Took an official visit to Nevada in late April.
Cade Osterman (Elk River) WR/ATH. 6’1, 185 lbs. Four Years of Eligibility. @cade_osterman – Transferring from the University of Minnesota
High School & College Accolades:
2022 Mr. Football. 13-0 5A state champion. AP First Team All-State, MN Vikings All-State, MN All-Star Game Selection, Kare11 All-Metro, Team Captain. In his prep career, totaled 233 carries for 2,337 yards and 29 TDs, 13 receiving TDs, 11 2 pt conversion, 65 tackles, an INT, 21 kickoffs for 442 yards, and was 33-70 passing for 744 yards. Held PWOs from Minnesota, Iowa State, Montana State, Ohio out of high school, as well as offers from St. Thomas, Winona State, MSU-Mankato, Dordt, UMD, Sioux Falls. Flipped a PWO commitment from Iowa State to Minnesota, where his pops played football and ranks in the top 15 in Gopher history for career receptions and receiving yards.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
St. Thomas, Marist College
Sam Henson (Owatonna) K. 6’2, 185 lbs. 2 Years of Eligibility Remaining. @sam_henson10 – Transferring from Concordia-St. Paul
High School & College Accolades:
As a prep at Owatonna High School, Henson was a three-sport athlete competing in football, soccer, and baseball. All-District and District Special Teams Player of the Year in football. was 45-47 on PATs and 5-7 on FGs as a senior. All-State First Team soccer player, also 2x All-Conference and a Team Captain. Held offers from Drake, CSP out of high school. At CSP, led the NSIC in FG percentage in 2021 and went 10-13 on FGs and 18-18 on PATs with a 53.3 kickoff per average mark. In 2022, entered the season as the 13th ranked kicker in DII by The College Football Network and was 3-11 on FGs with three blocked. Was 15-20 on PATs and posted 7 touchbacks on 35 kickoffs. Suffered a season-ending injury in 2023 and entered the transfer portal in April.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
None reported.
Forrest Scheel (Eden Prairie) OT. 6’7, 295 lbs. @ForrestScheel79 – Transferring from Wyoming
High School & College Accolades:
Experienced prep career with the 6A heavyweight Eagles. Two-year varsity starter, state runner-up, section and conference champ anchoring the Eden Prairie offensive line and heavyweight rushing attack. Flashed at regional and collegiate offseason showcases as well. Went to Fork Union Military Academy out of high school and eventually Iowa Central Community Central, where he earned offers from the likes of Texas State, Wyoming, and Eastern Michigan before committing to the ‘Pokes. In 2022, he appeared in two games for Wyoming. No appearances or statistics in 2023. Entered the transfer portal in late April and I believe he has bounced back to Iowa Central CC once again.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
Seems to be back at Iowa Central Community Central for another round of JUCO ball.
David Connors Jr. (Robbinsdale Cooper) WR/S. 6’3, 195 lbs. Three Years of Eligibility. @DavidConnorsJR1 – Transferring from Illinois State
High School & College Accolades:
Three-year starter at Cooper. Recorded 44 receptions fro 981 yards and 13 TDs as a senior. All-District, Team MVP, Academic All-District. Also competed in basketball and track and field. Illinois State was his only D1 offer. Redshirted in 2022 and was a member of the practice squad in 2023.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
Southwest Minnesota State
Davon Townley Jr. (Minneapolis North) DT. 6’6, 270 lbs. Two Years of Eligibility Remaining. @D1Davon – Transferring from Penn State
High School & College Accolades:
First year of football was his junior season. 2x Team Captain, All-Conference, and ranked as the #3 player in the state. Good basketball player who averaged 17.5 PPG and 9.4 rebounds per game as a junior. Held football offers from Central Michigan, Iowa State, Western Illinois, Minnesota, Mizzou, Indiana, Boston College, Nebraska, Arizona State, Arizona, Michigan State, Kentucky, Oregon, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Washington, Penn State. Also held Morgan State, Hampton, University of Tennessee basketball offers. Redshirted in 2021. Appeared in seven games and made three tackles in 2022 as a redshirt freshman. In 2023, as a redshirt sophomore, Townley Jr. appeared in three games and made a solo tackle. Originally entered the transfer portal in 2022 and took his name out after talking to the PSU staff. Reentered his name at the end of April.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
None Reported.
RJ Chakolis (Hopkins) LB. 5’10, 220 lbs. Three Years of Eligibility Remaining. @RChakolis – Transferring from New Mexico State
High School & College Accolades:
AP First Team All-State, Kare11 Preseason All-Metro, 195AAA state champion wrestler, and held offers from UMary, UMD, Valpo, and St. Thomas out of high school. Went to St. Thomas More prep school in Connecticut out of high school, spent a season there, and committed to New Mexico State to play LB. Appeared in two games in 2022 and two games in 2023.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
None reported.
Aaron Chanthanavong (Spring Lake Park) HB. 6’1, 230 lbs. 4 Years Eligibility Remaining. @chanthanavong – Transferring from MSU-Moorhead
High School & College Accolades:
2x All-District Honorable Mention and three-time varsity letterwinner at Spring Lake Park. Also was an All-State shot put selection, and lettered twice in track and once in wrestling. Also held an offer from St. John’s University. Redshirted in 2023 with the MSUM Dragons.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
None reported.
Logan Purcell (Annandale) OT. 6’7, 300 lbs. 3 Years of Eligibility Remaining. @LoganPurcell5 – Transferring from the University of Minnesota
High School & College Accolades:
A scholarship OT transfer from the U, Purcell was a good basketball player for the Cards and played OT and DE for Annandale’s football team. Ranked as a Top 50 OL prospect in the nation by 247Sports. Also held an offer from South Dakota. Redshirted in 2021 with the Gophs, competed in one game in 2022, and didn’t see any game action in 2023. Was an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2022 and 2023. Entered the transfer portal on April 25th.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
None Reported.
Brady Borgen (Ada-Borup) WR. 6’4, 195 lbs. 2 Years Eligibility remaining. @borgen_brady – Transferring from MSU- Mankato
High School & College Accolades:
Committed to NDSCS out of high school. Played in 18 games through two seasons and caught 14 passes for 242 yards and 3 TDs as a freshman. As a sophomore, posted 23 receptions for 469 yards and 7 TDs. Rushed twice for 4 yards and caught three passes for 27 yards at MSU-Mankato in 2023.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
None reported.
Eli Green (Farmington) WR. 5’11, 185 lbs. Two Years Eligibility Remaining. @Eligreen_ – Transferring from North Dakota State
High School & College Accolades:
The big name to know when talking Minnesota-made transfers from both the winter and spring portal entries. Four-year starter at Farmington who was a team captain senior year. Three-phase contributor. All-Metro First Team as a senior. All-Conference as a junior. Went 1-8 as a freshman and helped turn Farmington around to a 7-1 record as a senior. Posted 22 receptions for 369 yards and 5 TDs + a kickoff return for six as a senior. Also competed in basketball and track and field. Also held offers from South Dakota, St. Thomas, Northern State, MSU-Mankato, Northern Iowa, Iowa Western CC, South Dakota State. Redshirted with the Bison in 2021. In 2022, played in 12 of 15 games and made a start. Caught six passes for 92 yards and a TD. In 2023, he played in 15 games and made six starts, leading the Bison with 1,197 AP yards and 3 TDs. Totaled 877 receiving yards. Entered the portal on April 30th.
Offers Since Entering the Portal:
The big Minnesotan transfer winner, Green has been offered by USC, Louisville, Cincinnati, Texas A&M, Boise State, Washington State, houston, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Texas State, Duke, Arizona, Liberty, Tulane, Pitt, Western Kentucky, Fresno State, James Madison, New Mexico State